The Magic Bus - Part One

Send us Fan MailHOW A WONKY NUMBERPLATE LEFT ME IN MY PANTS IN A VANWhat started as an ordinary journey in my trusty Vauxhall Vectra turned into one of the strangest experiences of my life.A dodgy-looking number plate, a police stop and a search of my car quickly turned into something I certainly wasn't expecting. Before long, I found myself in the back of a police van and let's just say I wasn't exactly dressed for the occasion! 😂This is a story about police, a wonky numberplate, an unfortunate situation and one very embarrassing journey.Was the numberplate really the problem?Why did the police take such an interest in my car?And how on earth did I end up in a police van in my pants?You'll have to listen to the full story to find out!Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailThe terrorist attacks on 11th September 2001 took place on a Tuesday afternoon. Like millions of people, I sat glued to the television in disbelief as the horrific events unfolded.I couldn't take my eyes off the images from New York. They dominated every television channel and filled the front pages of every newspaper for days. As shocking as those scenes were, what was happening here in London also affected me deeply.Hundreds of people, day and night, made their way to Grosvenor Square, W1, outside the American Embassy. They came to lay flowers, sign books of condolences and simply stood together in quiet reflection.I couldn't help thinking there must be something I can do.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I share how I went from being an amateur with a camera to covering breaking news across London, photographing dramatic bus crashes, human-interest stories and front-page exclusives. Along the way, I reveal the unseen side of photojournalism the long hours, the risks, the patience and the determination needed to capture the picture that tells the real story.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailPart Two: Bringing Her Back to Life is a story of patience, determination, and the satisfaction of watching an impossible project slowly become something extraordinary.What started as a tired, worn-out bus slowly began its transformation into something truly special. Every day brought fresh challenges, unexpected setbacks, and plenty of hard graft, but with determination, ingenuity, and more than a few scraped knuckles, the old bus gradually came back to life.From mechanical repairs and bodywork to sourcing hard-to-find parts and solving one problem after another, Martin shares the highs, the lows, and the often humorous moments that come with restoring a unique vintage double decker. Packed with fascinating stories, practical problem-solving, and Martin's trademark South London humour, this episode proves that with enough perseverance, almost anything can be rescued from the brink.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailPeople often ask me,"Martin, how on earth did you end up owning a bright pink double-decker bus?"The truth is...I wasn't looking for one.I wasn't planning to buy one.In fact, I'd only gone out for pie and mash.What happened next changed my life.And that's where this story begins.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan Mail"True, funny stories from a South London photocopier engineer who spent a few years fixing machines across London."This is the true story that ended up causing far more drama than anyone could ever have imagined. The thought of losing my tools of the trade was unthinkable……Yet, on one ordinary working day, somewhere between a customer visit and a quick stop at a coffee shop, my tool case vanished without a trace.At first, I assumed I had simply misplaced it. A quick phone call or a retracing of my steps would surely solve the problem, but as the hours passed, the mystery only deepened. What began as a minor inconvenience, soon escalated into a chain of events involving frantic searches, confused staff, police cordons, and a conclusion, so unexpected that nobody could have predicted it.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailRefusing to be ripped off, Martin launches an impromptu protest inside the shop, loudly warning customers about its treatment of him. His one-man campaign drives potential buyers away, prompts the manager to call the police, and turns a £15 dispute into an expensive public relations disaster. When the police explain that Martin is within his rights to continue protesting outside the shop, does the manager finally give in and refunds the full amount?It's a humorous tale of standing up for yourself, proving that sometimes the principle is worth far more than the money.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened  

Send us Fan MailMy first council flat in Camberwell, south London, wasn't exactly what you'd call a dream home. It was a two-bedroom flat in a crumbling tower block that looked as though it had been built in a hurry and neglected ever since. If the council had been honest, they'd have called the place "Asbestos Towers." It didn't take long to discover we weren't the only residents here. Every evening, just as the lights went down, the cockroaches made their appearance. They weren't the occasional stray insect you'd squash with a slipper. These were an organised gang. They marched confidently across the kitchen worktops, on single file, very regimented & disappeared into the cupboards and cracks within seconds and scattered only when you switched the light on. It was as if they were paying the rent and we were the unwanted lodgers.Support the showPeople often ask me who writes my stories. The answer's simple. I lived them. I tell them. But when it comes to turning them into something people want to listen to... I just try to write it, exactly as it happened